526 



Reports on Foreign Crops. 



during the past year was in each case below that of 1896, 

 and also less than the average for the ten years 1887-96. 

 The aggregate yield was about 33,678,000 bushels less than 

 in the previous year. 



With regard to wheat and rye, the acreage in 1897 was 

 nearly the same as that in the previous year. The yield per 

 acre of wheat was 13-3 bushels, or 3 bushels less than in 

 1896, and of rye 14 bushels, or 2*4 bushels less than in the 

 preceding year ; and the total production of these two 

 food-grains declined by 18,415,000 bushels. The barley 

 crop yielded 16*6 bushels against 18*2 bushels last year, 

 whilst maize is estimated at 17-3 bushels against 19*8 bushels. 

 The most largely cultivated cereal is oats, the area under 

 this crop exceeding that of any other ; the yield per acre was 

 197 bushels against 21*3 bushels in J896. 



Crop Prospects in trance. 



A report on the state of the crops of wheat and rye in 

 France at the end of January last was published in the 

 Journal Officiel of February 13. 



It is stated as regards wheat that compared with the year 

 1897 there is an increased acreage in seventy departments in 

 five cases the increase exceeds 30 per cent.). The acreag~e 

 is the same as in the previous year in thirteen de- 

 partments, while in three others it is from 1 to 5 per cent, 

 less, and in one department the decrease is as much as 10 per 

 cent. The condition of the wheat crop was reported to be 

 "very good" in thirteen departments, "good" in forty-four, 

 " fairly good " in twenty-eight, and "passable" in the two 

 remaining departments. 



As regards the acreage under rye, compared with last year, 

 there is an increase in twenty-six departments. In forty-six 

 departments the acreag'e has not altered since last )^ear, while 

 it has decreased in thirteen departments (in one case by 40 

 per cent.). The condition of the growing* crop was returned 



